Monday, December 21, 2009

Little Herringbone Scarf - WIP

It's official. I am only creative in the colder months. I have finally picked up my needles recently after nearly a year of not knitting anything! Yikes! It is very clear to me that the quietness and isolative (is that a word? it should be) qualities of winter are highly conducive to crafting and knitting.

Here goes:

I saw this scarf and its pattern at a LYS and just had to give it a try. One side is all purls, the other is this little herringbone pattern which is just lovely to look at. But allow me to say - this one has been a BEAR so far! I've started it and frogged it several times, ranting and cursing, and finally seeking help from aforementioned LYS ("Knitting Treasures" on Court Street in Plymouth, MA and they are wonderful there!) Now I think I've got the hang of it. Phew!

Made with Manos Del Uruguay yarn- one of my fav's- 2 skeins, size 11 needles (but I don't have size 11 so I am using my 10 1/2's). I love the uneven-ness of the yarn, so you will see a slight variance in my stitches as the yarn randomly gets fatter and thinner.

Now I'm a "tight knitter", and with this pattern I have had to be very aware of keeping my stitches loose. Just FYI if this might apply to you.

Here is the pattern:

Cast on 30 stitches.

Row 1: K1, *sl 1, K1, psso, but before dropping the slipped stitch from the left needle, knit into the back of it*, until you have one stitch left, K1.

Row 2: P2tog, do not slip the stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch (the one closest to the tip of the needle) again, slip both stitches off the needle*.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you run out of yarn.

Bind off. Weave in ends.

And here is the sweet little bear mobile I bought from the very excellent ememem on etsy. I could not resist purchasing him, and he brings me joy. Amongst the treasures he is carrying, there is a little prism which sends sparkles across my kitchen. It's the little things, you know....